Former NYC ADA taking questions Forum

[Anonymous User]

I left a NYC DA's office a few months ago and I'm bored on a Saturday. Happy to answer any questions from incoming ADAs or anyone else for that matter.

I won't discuss which office specifically or where I'm working now.

Fire away.

[Anonymous User]

Who is your daddy and what does he do?

But really, what are you doing now?

[elimanning]

How would you suggest a student from a T25 school go about securing an internship? And where in the class would you have to fall (rank wise) to be competitive?

[Anonymous User]

How would you suggest a student from a T25 school go about securing an internship? And where in the class would you have to fall (rank wise) to be competitive?

A genuine desire to serve the public good is much more important than class rank. A strong cover letter discussing this can help if your resume doesn't scream PI.

Offices are always looking for interns, some more than others. Apply to all of the offices and see what happens. Speak with career services. I don't know anyone who wanted to intern at a DA's office that wasn't able to secure a position.

[bretby]

I left a NYC DA's office a few months ago and I'm bored on a Saturday. Happy to answer any questions from incoming ADAs or anyone else for that matter.

I won't discuss which office specifically or where I'm working now.

Fire away.

Thanks for answering questions! Does one's demonstrated interest in public service have to be in prosecution? I am spending this summer working for the "other side" (not directly, not public defense, but for an organization that is largely critical of prosecutors). Will this negatively impact my chances of interning/working on the prosecution side? How would recommend spinning this experience (if I need to at all)?

[Anonymous User]

How would you suggest a student from a T25 school go about securing an internship? And where in the class would you have to fall (rank wise) to be competitive?

A genuine desire to serve the public good is much more important than class rank. A strong cover letter discussing this can help if your resume doesn't scream PI.

Offices are always looking for interns, some more than others. Apply to all of the offices and see what happens. Speak with career services. I don't know anyone who wanted to intern at a DA's office that wasn't able to secure a position.

Thank you for your response. Does an internship generally lead to a job offer?

[encore1101]

I left a NYC DA's office a few months ago and I'm bored on a Saturday. Happy to answer any questions from incoming ADAs or anyone else for that matter.

I won't discuss which office specifically or where I'm working now.

Fire away.

Thanks for answering questions! Does one's demonstrated interest in public service have to be in prosecution? I am spending this summer working for the "other side" (not directly, not public defense, but for an organization that is largely critical of prosecutors). Will this negatively impact my chances of interning/working on the prosecution side? How would recommend spinning this experience (if I need to at all)?

Relate it to the aspirational goal of prosecutors: to seek justice; to convict the guilty and to acquit the innocent (as applied, aside). I was hired alongside people who had done innocence project type stuff.

[Anonymous User]

I left a NYC DA's office a few months ago and I'm bored on a Saturday. Happy to answer any questions from incoming ADAs or anyone else for that matter.

I won't discuss which office specifically or where I'm working now.

Fire away.

Thanks for answering questions! Does one's demonstrated interest in public service have to be in prosecution? I am spending this summer working for the "other side" (not directly, not public defense, but for an organization that is largely critical of prosecutors). Will this negatively impact my chances of interning/working on the prosecution side? How would recommend spinning this experience (if I need to at all)?

I think this is okay, but you should get some experience at a DAs office. You need to get in the room in order to spin your experience. That's going to be tough without at least some work at a DAs office.

[Anonymous User]

I left a NYC DA's office a few months ago and I'm bored on a Saturday. Happy to answer any questions from incoming ADAs or anyone else for that matter.

I won't discuss which office specifically or where I'm working now.

Fire away.

Thanks for answering questions! Does one's demonstrated interest in public service have to be in prosecution? I am spending this summer working for the "other side" (not directly, not public defense, but for an organization that is largely critical of prosecutors). Will this negatively impact my chances of interning/working on the prosecution side? How would recommend spinning this experience (if I need to at all)?

Relate it to the aspirational goal of prosecutors: to seek justice; to convict the guilty and to acquit the innocent (as applied, aside). I was hired alongside people who had done innocence project type stuff.

In my experience, ADAs with that type of experience don't enjoy their time as an ADA.

[Anonymous User]

How would you suggest a student from a T25 school go about securing an internship? And where in the class would you have to fall (rank wise) to be competitive?

A genuine desire to serve the public good is much more important than class rank. A strong cover letter discussing this can help if your resume doesn't scream PI.

Offices are always looking for interns, some more than others. Apply to all of the offices and see what happens. Speak with career services. I don't know anyone who wanted to intern at a DA's office that wasn't able to secure a position.

Thank you for your response. Does an internship generally lead to a job offer?

No. But it helps.

[Anonymous User]

I start at one of the NYC Offices this fall, and I'm really excited. It's why I went to law school. Now, while I wouldn't say I'm liberal compared to my Law School peers generally, I feel like I'm definitely more liberal than my law school peers who are also starting at NYC Offices. In addition all my interviewers made it seem like my resume was definitely more liberal than the usual hire and it was consistently the "pressure point" used in my interviews (compared to "why this office?"; "are you sure that's Brady?"; "B- in Criminal Law???"; etc.).

Is this just impostor syndrome? I never felt this way when I actually interned, but now that I'll actually have a case load with performance reviews, I'm beginning to get concerned. Am I going to be miserable? How are performance reviews conducted generally? FWIW, I'm not starting at a general trial bureau/division but offered contingent on specializing.

Also, I'm not the anon who wrote this in the 2016 DA Thread but what's your opinion on this?

What's going on at DANY? Heard lots of rumors of turnover/general dissatisfaction in the Trial Bureaus. For example, they usually lose about 17 Trial Division ADAs a year and as of June they've lost over 40. Spoke briefly with someone who uses to work there (now an AUSA) and said morale is way low and that a lot of people feel undervalued.

Personally, I've heard more of this type of talk coming out of KCDA. Do you think it's just people getting caught up in reforms? New leadership? All of the above? What was your reasoning?


Thanks for doing this.

[Anonymous User]

Can you state at least whether you were NY DA or one of the other four boroughs?

Any insight in getting into the public integrity unit?

[Anonymous User]

I start at one of the NYC Offices this fall, and I'm really excited. It's why I went to law school. Now, while I wouldn't say I'm liberal compared to my Law School peers generally, I feel like I'm definitely more liberal than my law school peers who are also starting at NYC Offices. In addition all my interviewers made it seem like my resume was definitely more liberal than the usual hire and it was consistently the "pressure point" used in my interviews (compared to "why this office?"; "are you sure that's Brady?"; "B- in Criminal Law???"; etc.).

Is this just impostor syndrome? I never felt this way when I actually interned, but now that I'll actually have a case load with performance reviews, I'm beginning to get concerned. Am I going to be miserable? How are performance reviews conducted generally? FWIW, I'm not starting at a general trial bureau/division but offered contingent on specializing.

Interviewers are less prepared than you think. I wouldn't read too much into that. The whole point is to see how you respond and handle yourself under pressure.

Since you're starting in a specialized bureau you won't have cases where someone is charged with trespassing in a NYCHA building because its 10 degrees outside and they're homeless. Those types of cases were always the most difficult for someone on the more liberal side to handle.

Also, I'm not the anon who wrote this in the 2016 DA Thread but what's your opinion on this?

What's going on at DANY? Heard lots of rumors of turnover/general dissatisfaction in the Trial Bureaus. For example, they usually lose about 17 Trial Division ADAs a year and as of June they've lost over 40. Spoke briefly with someone who uses to work there (now an AUSA) and said morale is way low and that a lot of people feel undervalued.

Personally, I've heard more of this type of talk coming out of KCDA. Do you think it's just people getting caught up in reforms? New leadership? All of the above? What was your reasoning?


Thanks for doing this.

It is hard out there for an ADA.

All of the offices are losing people at a significant rate right now. Richmond recently fired a bunch of ADAs without much notice because they didn't live on Staten Island and were left overs from the prior regime. KCDA, Bronx, and DANY are all losing people as well. I've heard very high numbers for both KCDA and Bronx this year. DANY is trying to poach assistants with 4-7 years experience who can jump in and try cases.

People leave for all different reasons. For me it was money and opportunity. IBR has changed the culture a lot. People who would have otherwise left the office stay because they can't pay back their loans. This makes for a weird dynamic.

[Anonymous User]

Can you state at least whether you were NY DA or one of the other four boroughs?

Any insight in getting into the public integrity unit?

No.

No.

[swampman]

It is hard out there for an ADA.

All of the offices are losing people at a significant rate right now. Richmond recently fired a bunch of ADAs without much notice because they didn't live on Staten Island and were left overs from the prior regime. KCDA, Bronx, and DANY are all losing people as well. I've heard very high numbers for both KCDA and Bronx this year. DANY is trying to poach assistants with 4-7 years experience who can jump in and try cases.

People leave for all different reasons. For me it was money and opportunity. IBR has changed the culture a lot. People who would have otherwise left the office stay because they can't pay back their loans. This makes for a weird dynamic.

Could you talk generally about where people leave to? Private crim defense?

[Anonymous User]

It is hard out there for an ADA.

All of the offices are losing people at a significant rate right now. Richmond recently fired a bunch of ADAs without much notice because they didn't live on Staten Island and were left overs from the prior regime. KCDA, Bronx, and DANY are all losing people as well. I've heard very high numbers for both KCDA and Bronx this year. DANY is trying to poach assistants with 4-7 years experience who can jump in and try cases.

People leave for all different reasons. For me it was money and opportunity. IBR has changed the culture a lot. People who would have otherwise left the office stay because they can't pay back their loans. This makes for a weird dynamic.

Could you talk generally about where people leave to? Private crim defense?

People leave for other city and state agencies (DOE, DOC, AGs office), other DAs offices outside of the city/state, small firms to do criminal defense or personal injury, insurance defense firms, med mal firms, clerkships, USAO, and to go solo.

[Anonymous User]

Edit: LoL

[A. Nony Mouse]

the passage you quote includes USAO.

[Anonymous User]

I left a NYC DA's office a few months ago and I'm bored on a Saturday. Happy to answer any questions from incoming ADAs or anyone else for that matter.

I won't discuss which office specifically or where I'm working now.

Fire away.

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Some questions:

Is it difficult to maintain a decent quality of life living in NYC on a DA's salary?

[nycada21]

Thanks for doing this!

^^ First, I second the question above: how difficult is it to live in NYC on an ADA salary?

Second, what are the hours actually like (especially with night court)? Are we really expected to drop everything at a certain point and respond to a crime scene or go to the office for a specific case?

Third, if they didn't specify which bureau we'll be working in when they offered, does that mean we can assume we'll be in the trial division?

Fourth, what are the real consequences of breaking the minimum year commitment?

Fifth, what are the dynamics between the district attorneys' offices and the public defenders'? Is there a lot of animosity? Is it difficult/impossible/nearly unheard of to switch to and get hired by the "other side"?

[Anonymous User]

Why "former"? What about the job made it not worth staying in (or conversely, what about your new job enticed you to leave the ADA position), generally-speaking?

[Nodbugger]

1L, T4 school, large city, not NY, decent grades, I'm currently working in that cities prosecutors office. Will a NY DA office consider me? I've already been told as long as I want to I can keep interning here until I graduate. I would like to work here when I graduate, girlfriend is a New Yorker so I'm hoping I could have a decent chance out there.

[Anonymous User]

I left a NYC DA's office a few months ago and I'm bored on a Saturday. Happy to answer any questions from incoming ADAs or anyone else for that matter.

I won't discuss which office specifically or where I'm working now.

Fire away.

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Some questions:

Is it difficult to maintain a decent quality of life living in NYC on a DA's salary?

No models and bottles but it is doable. Living with your SO who is also working helps.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for doing this!

^^ First, I second the question above: how difficult is it to live in NYC on an ADA salary?

Second, what are the hours actually like (especially with night court)? Are we really expected to drop everything at a certain point and respond to a crime scene or go to the office for a specific case?

Third, if they didn't specify which bureau we'll be working in when they offered, does that mean we can assume we'll be in the trial division?

Fourth, what are the real consequences of breaking the minimum year commitment?

Fifth, what are the dynamics between the district attorneys' offices and the public defenders'? Is there a lot of animosity? Is it difficult/impossible/nearly unheard of to switch to and get hired by the "other side"?

1. See above
2. No, you're not expected to drop everything and go to the office to respond to a crime scene. That is for much more senior ADAs. You will be working nights and weekends, but it is scheduled so you'll have plenty of notice.
3. No idea, probably depends on which office.
4. Termination and all of the potential issues with that.
5. Some good, some bad. Depends on who the defense attorney is. I tried to be nice to everyone. Call people back within 24 hours. Be open about your case and what your plans are (plea/trial) and see what they say. Also, ask the question. Want to know what the defense will be at trial? Ask. Want to know who is going to testify at trial? Ask. Want to know what kind of plea the defendant is interested in? Ask. You'd be surprised how much they'll tell you. The ones who are bad, who I didn't get along with, got very little from me other than People are ready for trial. No idea about switching sides. Haven't seen it done other than internships.

[Anonymous User]

Why "former"? What about the job made it not worth staying in (or conversely, what about your new job enticed you to leave the ADA position), generally-speaking?

Money was a big factor. If I stayed, it would have taken quite a long time to make what I'm making now.

The work was fast paced, but after awhile it got pretty dull. You're doing a lot of running around on fairly simple cases. Even the more serious ones. A robbery is just a petit larceny where they pulled a gun. Simple. The issues you face have more to do with complainants and police officers than the actual practice of law. Getting people into the office and ready to testify was always a challenge. Judges, defense attorneys, and even some bosses are all working against you. Sometimes it felt like I was the only one fighting the fight.

My new job is great. Challenging work, great colleagues, and a chance to make more money in the future.